^ 



Government 
Land 
Survey. 



T A 

$65 



S. J. Blocher. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



f-Q 



Shelf _..S^ 5 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



A THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL 



TREATISE 



GOVERNMENT LAND SURVEY 



FOE SCHOOL PURPOSES 

/ 

By S. J. BLOCHER, 

Bentonville, Ark., Aug 




"Scientia sine multo operisn 



CHICAGO: 

Rand, McNally & Company, Printers 

1894. 



K 



/ 



Copyright, 1894, l>y S. J. Blocher. 










E>^BFAGE. 



The object and scope of this work is not to make 
surveyors of the pupils, but to meet the requirements of 
the law contained in the bill introduced into the Legisla- 
ture by Hon. John Black of Bentonville, Ark., and bv 
their wisdom passed in the Assembly of 1893. 

The law states in substance that the method of the 
Government Land Survey, or the method of locating 
and describing land as surveyed by the Government, 
shall be taught in the public schools of Arkansas. (See 
School Law, page 85, concerning Government Land 
Survey, ) 

In compiling this work I have endeavored to explain 
and illustrate fully every point therein. I have gone 
beyond the method of merely locating and describing 
the lands of Arkansas, and have given the Government 
Land Survey in full. 

After completing our work on the Government Land 
Survey, such information in regard to land has been 

(3) 



4 Preface. 

given as is thought every . parent, teacher, and pupil 
should have, such as valid deeds, mortgages, and 
abstracts showing the practical use of the Survey, as 
well as instilling into the minds of the young the forms 
of such valuable papers. 

In presenting this work to the public I trust it will 
meet the approbation of all. 

Bentonville, Ark., August 17. 1893. 



Index. 

Page 

Bearing, - - - - - - - -55 

Base Line, ----- _ _ 27 

Derivation of Titles, ------ 10 

Fractional Forty, ------ 57 

First Meridian and Base Line, - - - -22 

First Specific Boundaries, - - - - 11 

Guide Meridian and Correction Line, - - - 64 

Guide Meridian, --_-_. (35 
History of Public Domain, ----- 9 

History of Surveying, - 14 

How Sections Are Described, - - - - 42 

Land, or Surveying, Districts, - 24 

Lot, ------- -49 

Land District Defined, - - - - - 25 

List of Unsurveyed States, - - - - - 70 

Numbering of Sections, ----- 42 

Preliminary Steps toward Union of the Colonies, - 12 

Principal Meridian, ------ 26 

(5) 



6 Index. 

Page 

Range Lines, - - - - - - - - 31 

Secondary Land District, - - - - - 25 

Second Method of Describing Land, - - 52 

Surveyor-General, - - - - - - 24 

Township Lines, - - - - - 31 

Township, - - - - - - - - 39 

Township, Politic, ----- 39 and 56 

Township, Congressional, - - - - 40 

Table of Measurement, ----- 44 

Table of Meridian and Base Lines, - - - 68 

Addenda. 

Abstract, .-.-__ _ 78 

Full Covenant Warranty Deed, - - - - 75 

Quit-Claim Deed, - - 76 

Real Estate Mortgage, ------ 78 



flBB^EYIAJPIONS, 



Prix. Mer. — Principal Meridian. 

B. L. — Base Line. 

Stand. P. — Standard Parallel. 

Cor. — Correction Line. 

T. — Township. 

B. — Range. 

5th Prin. Mer. — 5th Principal Meridian 

Sec. — Section. 



(7) 



Government laud Purvey. 



chapter i. 

F^istoi^y op Public Domain. 

Article 1. In order that we may take an 
intelligent journey through every step of the 
Government Land Survey, and that, after taking 
this enjoyable and instructive journey, we may 
look upon the Government Land Survey as being 
interesting and very simple, let us go back and 
begin our journey at a period of time when there 
were no established lines as we have them at 
present. Let us also investigate the history of 
the "Public Domain;" watch it as it develops; 
note the first established boundaries; when it was 

(9) 



10 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 

first titled "Public Domain," and how we ob- 
tained our title to it 

DERIVATION OF TITLES. 

Art. 2. The English, by reason of the voy- 
ages of the Cabots in 1498, acquired the title of 
first discoverers to the country extending from 
the 38th to the 67th degrees of north latitude. 
The English government began the work of 
taking possession of America .by colonization. 

The first charter was granted by Queen Eliza- 
beth, March 25, A. D. 1584, to Sir Walter 
Raleigh, known since as the North Carolina 
charter. Then followed a series of grants and 
charters to individuals and companies, under 
w T hich the colonies comprising the thirteen orig- 
inal States of the American Union and their west- 
ern land were acquired. The title to our national 
domain conies, first, by discovery of the Cabots; 
second, by discoveries and colonization under 
grants, authorizations, and charters from Eng- 
land, Holland, France, Sweden, and Spain, and 
treaties and conventions thereafter; third, by 



On Government Land Survey. 11 

revolution in 1776, and confirmation through and 
by the definitive treaty of peace at Paris with 
Great Britain, September 3, 1783, whereby the 
crown of Great Britain recognized the independ- 
ence of the United States; fourth, by purchase 
from France of the province of Louisiana, April 
30, 1803; fifth, by purchase from Spain of the 
East and West Floridas, February 22, 1819; 
sixth, by annexation of the Republic of Texas, 
December 29, 1845; seventh, by the treaty of 
Guadalupe Hidalgo, February 2, 1848; eighth, 
by purchase from the Republic of Mexico (the 
Gadsden purchase) of the Messilla Valley, De- 
cember 30, 1853; ninth, by purchase from the 
Empire of Russia of Alaska, March 30, 1867. 

The national domain amounts to about 4,000, - 
000 square miles; the land surface is estimated at 
3,586,006 square miles. 

FIRST SPECIFIED BOUNDARIES. 

Art. 3. As you have seen, a series of grants 
followed, extending from March 25, 1584, till col- 
onization ceased. None of these grants, however, 



12 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 

specified definite territory prior to the year 1603. 
By the charter granted by Henry IV. of France 
to Pierre du Gast in 1603, North America, be- 
tween latitude 40° and 46°, was called under the 
grant " Acadia." This was the first grant with 
specified boundaries. 

In 1606, April 10th, James I. of England made 
a grant for the establishment of two colonies, 
u London and Plymouth Companies." The terri- 
torial grant of the London Company covered a 
strip of sea-coast fifty miles broad, extending 
from the 34th to the 41st parallels. The Ply- 
mouth Company was assigned the territory 
between the 38th and 45th parallels. Each grant 
covering in part the same territory. 

Other specific grants were given after this from 
time to time until the thirteen original colonies 
were established. 

PRELIMINARY STEPS TOWARD UNION OF THE 

COLONIES. 

Art. 4. In 1643 the colonies of Massachusetts, 
Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven formed 



On Government Land Survey. 13 

a league* which existed for forty years under reg- 
ular form and with a congress of delegates. 

A congress of governors and commissioners was 
held in Albany, N. Y., in 1722; also a congress of 
colonial commissioners met in Albany, N. Y. , in 
1754. They resolved that a union of the colonies 
was absolutely necessary for their protection and 
preservation. 

October 7, 1765, delegates from nine colonies 
assembled in a congress at New York City and 
adopted a ' ; Declaration of Rights ' ? on the ques- 
tion of taxation. 

On the 5th of September, 1774, delegates from 
eleven of the colonies met in Carpenter s Hall, 
Philadelphia, and adopted a resolution recom- 
mending the suspension of commercial inter- 
course with Great Britain till the wrongs of the 
colonies should be redressed. 

On the 10th of May, 1775, the second Colonial 
Congress of delegates from thirteen colonies 
assembled in Philadelphia. They voted to raise 
20,000 men and means to support them. 

On Tuesday, July 2, 1776, the Continental Con- 



14 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 

gress in Philadelphia — ' ' Resolved, That these 
United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, 
free and independent States; that they are 
absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, 
and that all political connection between them 
and the states of Great Britain is, and ought to 
be, totally dissolved;" and a committee was 
raised to draft a Declaration of Independence, 
which was signed by fifty-six members July 4, 
1776, in the state-house at Philadelphia, Pa. 

The states, July 4, 1776, becoming successors 
to the colonies and crow T n rights to unappropri- 
ated or crown lands lying to the westward of 
their recognized western boundaries, and possess- 
ing such lands severally, transferred them by 
deed of cession to the United States to be dis- 
posed of for the benefit of all the people. Thus 
the first of the " Public Domain" was formed. 

HISTORY OF SURVEYING. 

Art. 5. Eight years had now passed since the 
incipiency of the public domain, and no method 
of surveying had yet been inaugurated. The 



On Government Land Survey. 15 

time had come when it was necessary that some 
method of locating definitely and disposing of 
the public land properly should be established. 
Hence Congress, in 1784, took a step toward the 
founding of this system. 

The present system of survey of the public 
lands w r as inaugurated by a committee appointed 
by the Continental Congress, and consisting of 
the following delegates : 

Hon. Thomas Jefferson, chairman, Virginia; 
Hon. Hugh Williamson, North Carolina; Hon. 
David Howell, Rhode Island; Hon. Elbridge 
Gerry, Massachusetts, Hon. Jacob Read, South 
Carolina. 

On the 7th of May, 1784, this committee re- 
ported u an ordinance for ascertaining the mode 
of locating and disposing of lands in the western 
territory, and for other purposes therein men- 
tioned." This ordinance required the public 
lands to be divided into " hundreds " of ten geo- 
graphical miles square, and those again to be 
subdivided into lots of one mile square each, to 
be numbered from 1 to 100, commencing in the 



16 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 

northwest corner, and continuing from west to 
east and from east to west consecutively, as 
shown in the following diagram: 

Fig. A 



1 


2 


3 


4 


5 


6 


7 


8 


9 


10 


20 


19 


18 


17 


16 


15 


u 


13 


12 


11 


21 


22 


23 


24 


25 


26 


27 


28 


29 


30 


40 


39 


38 


37 


36 


35 


34 


33 


32 


31 


41 


W 


43 


44 


4~5 


46 


47 


48 


49 


50 


60 


59 


58 


57 


56 


55 


54 


53 


52 


51 


61 


62 


63 


64 


65 


66 


67 


68 


69 


70 


80 


79 


78 


77 


76 


75 


74 


73 


72 


71 


81 


82 


83 


84 


85 , 


86 


87 | 


88 


89 


90 


100 


99 


98 


97 ' 


96 


95 


94 


93 


92 


91 



This ordinance was considered, debated, and 
amended, and reported to Congress April 26, 1785, 
and required the surveyors ' ' to divide the said 
territory into townships of seven miles square, 
by lines running due north and south, and others 
crossing these at right angles. * * * The 



On Government Land Survey. 17 

plats of the townships, respectively, shall be 
marked by subdivisions into sections of one mile 
square, or 640 acres, in the same direction as 
the external lines, and numbered from 1 to 49. 
* * * And these sections shall be subdivided 
into lots of 320 acres/' This is the first record of 
the use of the terms " township "■ and " section." 
May 3, 1785, on motion of Hon. William 
Grayson of Virginia, seconded by Hon. James 
Monroe of Virginia, the section respecting the 
extent of townships was amended by striking 
oat the words " seven miles square' ' and substi- 
tuting the words "six miles square." The 
records of these early sessions of Congress are 
not very full or complete; but it does not seem 
to have occurred to the members until the 6th 
of May, 1785, that a township six miles square 
could not contain forty-nine sections of one 
mile square. At that date a motion to amend 
was made, which provided, among other changes, 
that a township should contain thirty-six sec- 
tions, and the amendment was lost. The ordi- 
nance as finally passed, however, on the 20th of 



18 A Theoretical and Practical Ti^eatise 

May, 1785, provided for' townships six miles 
square, containing thirty-six sections of one mile 
square. The first public surveys were made 
under this ordinance. The townships, six miles 
square, were laid out in ranges, extending 
northward from the Ohio River, the townships 
being numbered from south to north and the 
ranges from east to west. The region embraced 
by the surveys under this law forms a part of the 
present State of Ohio, and is usually styled 
"The Seven Ranges. ? ' In these initial surveys 
only the exterior lines of the townships were 
surveyed, but the plats were marked by sub- 
divisions into sections of one mile square, and 
mile corners were established on the township 
lines. The sections were numbered from 1 to 36, 
commencing with No. 1 in the southeast corner 
of the township, and running from south to 
north in each tier to No. 36 in the northwest 
corner of the township, as shown in the follow- 
ing diagram: 



On Government Land Survey. 
Fig.JB 



J9 



86 


80 


H 


18 


12 


6 


35 


29 


23 


17 


11 


5 


34 


28 


22 


16 


10 


k 


33 


27 


21 


15 


9 


3 


32 


26 


20 


H 


8 


2 


31 


25 


19 


13 


7 


1 



The surveys were made under the direction of 
the geographer of the United States.* 

The act of Congress approved May 18, 1796, 
provided for the appointment of a " surveyor- 
general," and directed the survey of the lands 
northwest of the Ohio River, and above the 



-The first officer in charge of the Public Lands was called 
the geographer of the United States. He was appointed under 
the ordinance of May 20, 1785. Thomas Hutchins was the first 
and only incumbent of the office. 



20 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 

mouth of the Kentucky River, u in which the 
title of the Indian tribes has been extinguished/' 
Under this law one-half of the townships sur- 
veyed were subdivided into sections, * £ by 
running through the same, each way, parallel 
lines at the end of every two miles, and by 
making a corner on each of said lines at the end 
of every mile, " and it further provided that the 
" sections shall be numbered respectively, begin- 
ning with No. 1 in the northeast section and 
proceeding west and east alternately through 
the township with progressive numbers till the 
thirty-sixth be completed." This method of 
numbering sections, as shown in Fig. 8, page 41, 
is still in use. 

The act of Congress approved May 10, 1800, 
required the " townships west of the Muskingum, 
which * * * are directed to be sold in quar- 
ter-townships, to be subdivided into half -sections 
of 320 acres each, as nearly as may be, by running 
parallel lines through the same from east to 
west and from south to north at the distance of 
one mile from each other, and making corners at 



On Government Land Survey. 21 

the distance of each half-mile on the lines running 
from east to west, and at the distance of each mile 
on those running from south to north." 

The act of Congress approved February 11, 
1805, directs the subdivision of the public lands 
into quarter-sections. 

The act of Congress approved April 25, 1812, 
provided ""that there shall be established in the 
Department of the Treasury an office to be denom- 
inated the General Land Office, the chief officer of 
which shall be called the Commissioner of the 
General Land Office." 

The act of Congress approved April 24, 1820, 
provides for the sale of public lands in half 
quarter-sections, and requires that c; in every case 
of the division of a quarter-section the line for 
the division thereof shall run north and south, 
* * * and fractional sections containing 160 
acres and upward shall in like manner, as nearly 
as practicable, be subdivided into half quarter- 
sections, under such rules and regulations as may 
be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury; 



22 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 

but fractional sections containing less than 160 
acres shall not be divided.' ' 

The act of Congress approved April 5, 1832, 
directed the subdivision of the public lands into 
quarter-quarters, or tracts of forty acres each. 

From time to time Congress has corrected this 
system, as difficulties presented themselves, till 
we have our present method of land survey. 

In 1803 Capt. Jared Mansfield/' having been ap- 
pointed surveyor-general of the Northwest Terri- 
tory, devised a plan for surveying and recording 
such parts of a section as were offered for sale. 
This was one more step toward the completion of 
the present system, and is still adhered to. 

FIRST MERIDIAN AND BASE LINES. 

The first meridian was fixed in 1786. Three base 

* Under the act of May 18. 1796, creating the office of surveyor- 
general, Rufus Putnam, in 1797, was appointed surve} T or-general 
of the Northwest Territory. He remained in office until 1803. 
Capt. Jared Mansfield succeeded as surveyor-general from 1803 to 
to 1813. Under Capt. Mansfield, assisted by Mr. Jefferson, many 
and important changes and improvments were made in the rect- 
angular system of surve} T . Josiah Meigs held this office from 
1813 to 1815, and Edward Tiffin from 1815 to 1825. Under these 
the sections of the country were laid out. 



On Government Land Survey. 23 

lines connecting with this were established in the 
same year. 

You have now seen the ordinance undergo its 
various changes, and are ready to investigate the 
system as it exists at present. 



24 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 



CHAPTER II. 



I^esenui System op Lcand 
Survey. 



LAND, OR SURVEYING, DISTRICTS. 
Art. 6. The entire domain, or territory, to be 
surveyed must be divided into u land districts,"* 
or " surveying districts," if it is too extensive 
to be maintained in one, or if its natural divisions 
are such as to require it to be thus divided. 

SURVEYOR-GENERAL. 
Art. 7. In each land district f a surveyor- 
general is appointed, who superintends all sur- 
veys made in his district. He must give bond 

*May 7, 1822, the first land or surveying district was created. 
It was the State of Ohio. 

f These land or surveying districts are closed by act of Congress 
when all the public lands are surveyed, and certain archives 
therein transferred to the State in which the lands lie. 



On Government Land Survey. 25 

and take the oath of his office. He appoints 
deputy surveyors, who go into the fields and do 
the actual work. They are also put under oath 
as to the validity of work done. 

LAND DISTRICTS DEFINED. 

Art. 8. A land district, or surveying district, 
is a large body of land set apart all of which shall 
be sectionized according to one principal meridian 
and base line. Often it comprises just a State; 
sometimes two or more States and parts of States; 
occasionally not so much as a State. Thus, for 
an example, Indiana alone is sectionized accord- 
ing to the second principal meridian; the fifth 
principal meridian governs the survey of Arkan- 
sas, Missouri, Iowa, very nearly all of Minnesota, 
North Dakota, and the east half of South Dakota. 
(See United States map of land districts.) 

SECONDARY LAND DISTRICTS. 
Art. 9. Land districts, or surveying districts, 
are often divided into other land districts. This 
is done for the sake of convenience in making 
surveys or for the purpose of designating and 
recording land in a particular locality. 



26 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 

These districts are always named, and in each 
one there is a land office. 

Arkansas is divided into the following land 
districts, with the accompanying land office in 
each: 

Little Rock District, land office Little Rock; 
Dardanelle District, land office Dardanelle; Har- 
rison District, land office Harrison; Camden Dis- 
trict, land office Camden. 

Art. 10. In analytic geometry all loci, or 
points of a plane, are established with reference 
to two lines crossing each other. These are called 
"axes of reference.' ' On this principle the 
Government Land Survey proceeds. We can 
establish any territory or tract of land with 
reference to two lines intersecting each other; 
but for the sake of simplicity these "axes of 
reference ' ' are called ' ; principal meridian ' ' 
and "base lines/' 

PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN. 

Art. 11. To sectionize these land districts, 
through the middle, or near it, or in some con- 



On Government Land Survey. 27 

venient part, a meridian must be established. 
This is called the " principal meridian/' 

Meridian, base, guide, and correction lines are 
established by astronomical observation. Other 
lines are run with the compass. 

BASE LINE. 

Art. 12. Near the middle of the meridian and 
at right angles to it another line must be estab- 
lished. This is called the "base line." 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Art. 13. Suppose we were going to survey 
and sectionize the following domain: (Fig. 1.) 

First, we will suj^pose its natural divisions to 
be such as to require it to be divided into three 
land districts, as in Fig. 2, or as it is opened for 
settlement, to come in, severally, in. these three 
divisions. 

Art. 14. Second, let us establish near the 
middle of each land district a principal meridian. 
(Fig. 3.) There is no uniformity of distance be- 
tween principal meridians, neither is there any 
between base lines. 



28 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 




On Government Land Survey. 29 




30 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 



Fig. 3 




On Government Land Survey. 31 

Art. 15. Now as we have the meridian lines 
established, let us run our base lines near the cen- 
ter of each meridian and at right angles to them. 
(Fig. 4.) 

Art. 16. Each principal meridian is numbered 
from east to west in rotation. Often instead of 
being numbered they are named, as the Michigan, 
St. Helena, Willamette meridian, etc. The one 
that governs the sectionizing of Arkansas is 
called the fifth principal meridian. (See United 
States map of meridians and land districts.) 

RANGE LINES. 

Art. 17. Third, let us lay off other meridian 
lines six miles apart on either side of the princi- 
pal meridian, as in Fig. 5. 

These columns constitute tlie range. Hence 
we see that ranges lay along meridian Jines and 
run north and south. These lines are called 
range lines. The figures, or numbers, along the 
base line are the range numbers. 

TOWNSHIP LINES. 

Art. 18. Fourth, as in Fig. 6, we will lay off 



32 A Theoretical, and Practical Treatise 



Fiff.4 







On Government Land Survey. 



33 




34 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 

parallels to the base line, both north and south, 
six miles apart. These are township lines. The 
columns between the parallels are township col- 
umns, and are numbered along the meridian both 
north and south from the base line. The num- 
bers along the principal meridian are the town- 
ship numbers. 

Art. 20. Were we to describe Township a in 
Fig. 6, we would say: Township 6 north, Range 3 
east; Township b would be Township 3 north, 
Range 3 west; c would be Township 8 south, Range 
2 west; and d would be Township 5 south, Range 
1 east, etc. In expressing these townships, write 
them thus: T. 6 K, R. 3 E. 

Examples for practice: 

How would you describe the townships in 
Fig. 6 marked by the letters as follows: r, s, t } u, 
v, w, x, y, and z f 

Answers to the foregoing examples: 

r is Township 3 S. , Range 3 E. 
s " " 6 S., " 2 E. 

t ^ " 6 S., " 2 W. 

u " u 2 K, " 2 W. 



On Government Land Survey. 



35 




The other districts are surveyed in like manner 



36 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 
v is Township 3N., Range 2 E. 



w " 


i i 


2 N., 


ii 


4 E. 


X." 


U 


2 S., 


U 


3 W. 


y " 


u 


3 S., 


u 


2 W. 


z " 


u 


•5 N., 


( . 


2 W. 



Arrange a table as above of all the townships 
in Fig. 6. 

Art. 21. It appears from Pig. 6 that the 
meridian lines run parallel, but they do not. 
They continue to approach till they come to- 
gether at the north pole. Hence corrections must 
be made in these lines to make up for the loss. 

These corrections are made on scientific prin- 
ciples, which* will be explained farther on. (See 
page 64.) 

Art. 22. On account of the obliquity of these 
meridian lines, a township does not contain the 
supposed amount, 23,040 acres. This gives rise 
to the expression, ' ' 40, 60, or 80 acres, more or 
less," and partially to fractional forties. 



On Government Land Survey. 37 



Questions. 

13. In the solution of this problem what was the first 

step? 

14. What was to be appointed in each land district? 

15. What was he to do? 

16. What is a land district? 

17. How much territory does it comprise? 

18. What State has three meridians? 

19. What States does the 5th principal meridian gov- 

ern? 

20. How much territory is sectionized according to 

the 2d principal meridian? 

21. What is the second step in the survey? 

22. What is the third? 

23. What are the two lines just established called? 

24. How are meridians numbered? 

25. Are they ever named and not numbered? 

26. Give the name of the extreme west meridian. 

27. What do we call the one that governs Arkansas? 

28. What do we do after establishing meridian and 

base lines? 

29. How do we number the columns thus -formed? 

30. W T hat are these columns? 

31. The numbers along the base line are what? 



38 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 

32. What is the next step? 

33. The columns thus formed are what? 

34. How are they numbered? 

35. The numbers along the meridian are what? 

36. What are the requisites in describing any township? 

37. Do the meridian lines that we have just estab- 

lished run parallel? 

38. What must be done to overcome this difficulty? 

39. Do townships contain the exact amount supposed? 

40. What expression has arisen from that cause? 



On Government Land Survey. 39 



CHAPTER III. 



<9HE (90WNSHIP. 



Art. 23. You liave now learned that a town- 
ship is a mathematical division of the county 
six miles square. This is called a " congres- 
sional township," and is the one with which we 
are to deal in this work. 

In order to prevent confusion of mind it might 
be well to explain another kind of township. 

THE TOWNSHIP POLITIC. 

Art. 24. The township politic must not be 
confounded with the congressional township, as 
the former is a political and the latter a mathe- 
matical division. Political townships are named, 
as, for example, Osage, Mount Vernon, Sulphur 
Springs, etc., and are of no definite size and have 
no relation to the congressional township. 



40 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 



States, congressional districts, counties, and 
townships, as last mentioned, are political divis- 
ions. Land districts, townships, and sections 
are mathematical divisions. 

CONGRESSIONAL TOWNSHIP. 

Art. 26. Let us now take up the congres- 
sional township and explain as surveyed. 

Tig. If 



Enlargement of Township A, Fig. 6. 
Through each township other meridians are 
run one mile apart, dividing it into six columns, 



On Government Land Survey. 



41 



as in Fig. 7. These columns are not numbered 
as the townships and ranges, but east and west 
lines are run one mile apart parallel with the 
base line, as in Fig. 8. In the real survey of the 
townships, these lines are established at the 

Fig. 8 



6 


5 


4 


3 


2 


1 


7 


8 


9 


10 


11 


12 


18 


17 


16 


15 


u 


13 


19 


20 


21 


22 


23 


u 


30 


29 


28 


27 


26 


25 


31 
_ J 


32 


83 


34 


35 


86 



Enlargement of Township A, Fig. 6. 

same time that the north and south lines are 
run. 

We see now that each township is divided into 
thirty-six sections; each section is one mile square. 



42 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 

and contains C40 acres, more or less, as we have 
seen and. will fully understand farther on. 

HOW SECTIONS ARE NUMBERED. 

Art. 27. Beginning with the section in the 
northeast corner of the township, number, as in 
Fig. 8, back and forth till all the sections are 
numbered, Section 36 always being in southeast 
corner. 

Both the lines running north and south, east 
and west through the township are called sec- 
tion lines. 

HOW SECTIONS ARE DESCRIBED. 

Art. 28. Were we to describe Section 17 in 
the above township, we would say Section 17, 
Township 6 north, Range 3 east. If it were Town- 
ship I), Ave would describe it as being Section 17, 
Township 3 north, Range 3 west. Township c 
would be Section 17, Township 8 south, Range 2 
west. Township d would be Section 17, Town- 
ship 5 south, Range 1 east, etc. Expressing this 
in writing, it should be, li Sec. 17, T. 6 K, R. 3 
E. '' etc. 



On Government Land Survey. 43 

We give below a few practical examples to 
be written by the pupil. 

How would you describe Section 5 in Township 
r, Fig. 6, both verbal and written ? How Sec- 
tion 18 in ■$ '. Section 14 in t \ Section 25 in u I 
Section 36 in v ? Section 1 in w \ Section 12 in 
x% Section 17 in?/? Section 19 in z '*. 

ANSWERS. 

Sec. 5, T. 3 S., E. 3 E. 
Sec. 18, T. 6 S., E. 2 E. 
Sec, 14, T. 6 S.. E. 2 W. 
Sec. 23, T. 2N.,E. 2W. 
Sec. 36, T. 3N., E. 2 E. 
Sec. 1, T. 2N\, E. 4 E. 
Sec. 12, T. 2.8., E. 3 W. 
Sec. 17, T. 3S., E, 2 W. 
Sec. 19, T. 5 N., E, 2 W. 



44 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 



Section. 

TABLE OF MEASUREMENT. 

6 miles square = 1 township. 

1 township = 36 sections. 

36 sections = 23,040 acres. 

1 section = 640 acres. * 

i section = 320 acres. * 

\ section = 160 acres. * 

i section == 80 acres.* 

T V section = 40 acres. * 

66 feet = 1 chain. 

80 chains = 1 mile. 

80 chains square = 1 section. 

40 chains square = J section. 

10 chains square = T V section. 

10 square chains = 1 acre. 

Art. 29. We have now enlarged a township in 

* Sections may be divided into much smaller parts, but these 
are the "Legal Divisions." (See pages 20, 21, and 22.) 



On Government Land Survey. 



45 



all of its divisions ; let us next enlarge a section. 
For an example, let us take Section 19 in the 
above township, Fig. 8, so that when we get our 
section divided we may be able to describe any 
part of it. 

Sections may be divided into half-sections, 
fourth-sections, sixteenths, and sixty-fourths, 
etc., as shown in the following diagrams: 
Fig. 9 Fig. 10 




ft. '/s 


. S. 1/2 

m 



*/* 

We must still bear in mind to what township 
this section belongs. It is Township 6 N., Eange 
3E. 

PRACTICAL EXAMPLES. 

How would you describe the half -section marked 



46 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 



I, Fig. 9 \ Ans. E. \ of Sec. 19, T.6N..R.3 E. 
How m, in Fig. 10 % Ans. S \ of Sec. 19, T.6N., 
R. 3 E. How would you describe n in Fig. 11 ? 
Ans. N. W. i of Sec. 19, T. 6 N., R. 3 E. How 
would you describe p, as divided in Fig. 12? 
Tig. 1 1 Fig. 12 



X. W. 1 /i 

11 


X.E. Y4 


s. w. % 




S.E. Vi 



~N.V&of 

JV. W. J /i 


<7 




h 




i 


P 




e 
















S.W.of 

s.w, l A 

- 


■k 


c 






d 




I 





l A 



-1/16 



n 



Ans. N. W. J* of S. W. \ of Sec. 19, T. 6 N., 
R. 3 E. How g\ Ans. N. W. \ of N. E. \ of 
Sec. 19, etc. How i « Ans. S. E. J of N. E. J of 
Sec. 19, T. 6 N., R. 3 E. How A:? Ans. S. E. \ 
of S. W. \ of Sec. 19, T. 6 IS., R. 3 E. 
How would you describe e in Fig. 12 ? Ans. 

* N. W. of S. W. i; the N. W. i of S. W. i. and N. W. 1-4 
of S. W. 1-4, are, in meaning, the same. 



— y 



On Government Land Survey. 47 

N. W. i of N. W. £ of S. E. J of Sec. 19, T. 6 N., 
E. 3E. Howe, Fig. 12? Ans. N. W.JofS. W. 
J of S. E. J of Sec. 19, etc. How d in the same 
figure? Ans. N. E. of S. E of S. E. \ of Sec. 19. 
etc. 

How many acres in each of the above examples? 

Interpret the following: 

N. E. i of S. W. iof Sec. 10, T. 18 K, R. 4E.; 
N. W. i of N. E J of S. W. i of Sec. 5, T. 41 S., 
R. 25 E.; E. i of N. W. \ of S. E. i of Sec. 36, 
T. 1 S., R. 89 W.; S. i of N. E. i of S. W. i of 
Sec. 31, T. 20 N., R. 1 E. 

How many acres in each of these examples ? 

Mr. N. L. Bradshaw owns K E. J of Sec. 22, 
T. 1 S., R. 2 W. His house is on the northeast 
corner of the farm. He bought the W. ^ of S. 
W. i of Sec. 36, T. 2 K, R. 1 E. He left his 
home to go to the latter farm, and his journey 
was as follows: He w T ent north to the southeast 
corner of Section 3, thence east to northeast cor- 
ner of Section 12, thence north to southwest 
corner of Section 31, T. 1 N., R. 1 W.; thence 
east to southwest corner of Section 34, T. IN., 



48 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 

R. 1 W.; thence north to southwest corner of 
Section 15, T. 1 K, R. 1 W.; thence east to 
southeast corner of Section 13, T. 1 N., R. 1W.; 
thence north to northeast corner of Section 13, T. 
1 K, R. 1 W. ; thence east to southwest corner of 
Section 11, T. IN., R. IE.; thence directly to 
northeast corner of the same section; thence north 
to southwest corner of said farm. But when he 
started back, he went west from the farm to 
northwest corner of Section 3, T. 1 N., R. 1 E.; 
thence south to southwest corner of Section 27, 
T. IK, R. IE; thence west to northwest corner 
of Section 34, T. 1 N., R. 1 W.; thence south to 
southeast corner of Section 16, T. 1 S., R. 1 W. ; 
thence west to place of starting. 

Plat the above townships, farms, and roads. 
Where do the roads intersect? How far did he 
travel the same road, and where? How much 
land in each farm? How far did he travel on his 
journey home? Could he have come a nearer way 
and yet followed section lines? 



On Government Land Survey. 49 

LOTS. 

Art. 30. The act of Congress approved May 
24, 1824, provides, u That whenever, in the opin- 
ion of the President of the United States, a 
departure from the ordinary mode of surveying 
land on any river, lake, bayou, or watercourse 
would promote the public interest, he may direct 
the surveyor-general in whose district such land 
is situated, and where the change is intended to 
be made, under such rules and regulations as the 
President may prescribe, to cause the lands thus 
situated to be surveyed in tracts of two acres in 
width, fronting on any river, lake, bayou, or 
watercourse, and running back the depth of forty 
acres. 

The act of April 5, 1832, gave to the Secretary 
of the Treasury power to divide residuary land 
according to rules and regulations prescribed by 
himself. Hence we have divisions termed lots. 

A lot is a subdivision of a section, usually of 
irregular form. 

Lots are described as being Lots Nos, 1, 2, 3, 4, 
etc., of a particular section. 

4 



50 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 



Questions. 

41. What is a township? 

42. How are townships divided? 

43. Into how many parts? 

44. Are they numbered as townships and ranges? 

45. How much land does a section contain? 

46. How are they numbered? 

47. Where is Section 36 always located? 

48. What are the lines through a township called? 

49. What are the requisites in describing a section? 

50. How may a section be divided ? 

51. What are the legal divisions of a section? 



On Government Land Survey. 51 



MPB Questions or* Ai^qnsps. 

1. According to what meridian is Arkansas sectionized? 

2. Where does this meridian begin and terminate? * 

3. Locate the base line.* 

4. How extensive is this land district in which Arkan- 

sas is situated ? * 

5. In what part of it is Arkansas? 

6. In what township is your county seat? 

7. You are now in what township? 

8. Do you or your parents own land? If so, describe it. 

9. Under which method does it come? 

-The fifth principal meridian starts from the mouth of the 
Arkansas River, and, with a common base line running due west 
from the mouth of the Saint Francis River, in Arkansas, governs 
the surveys in Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota west of the 
Mississippi, and the third guide meridian north of the river, 
North Dakota and South Dakota east of the Missouri River. 
This meridian is coincident with 90° 58' longitude west from 
Greenwich. 



52 A Tlieoretical and Practical Treatise 



CHAPTEE IV. 



Second GQewhod op Desgi^ib 

INGliAND. 



Art. 31. We use the rectangular method of 
describing or locating land when we have north 
and south, east and west lines by which Ave are 
to be governed; but if the boundary -lines of a 
piece of land run obliquely as in Figs. 13 and 14, 
we must resort to some other method. 

We will describe Fig. 13 as Sec. 20, T. 1 K, 
R. 4 W., and Fig. 14 as Sec, 5, T. 8 S., K. 3 E. 

In describing land when bounded as in Figs. 13 
and 14, we must be governed by " bearing" and 
the length of the sides. 

Art. 32. We describe and locate the tract of 
land in Fig. 13 as follows: Beginning at S. W. 
corner of S. E. \ of Sec. 20, T. 1 N., R. 4 W.; 



On Government Land Survey. 



53 



thence N. 45° E. r chains; thence S. 50° E. s 
chains; thence S. to S. E. corner of the above- 
named section; thence W. to beginning point; 
Fig. 13 JFig. 14= 




A B in Fig. 13 = r chains; BC=s chains; C D = i 
chains. 

B A in Fig. 11 = m chains; B C = n chains; CD = 
I chains; DE = i chains; E F = h chains. 

containing 74£ acres. We describe m in the 
same way, thus: Beginning at S. W. corner of 
Sec. 5, T. 8 S., R. 3 E. ; thence N. 20° E. m chains; 
thence N. 70° E. n chains; thence S. 40° E. 1 
chains; thence S. 20° E. li chains; thence S. 60° 
W. Jc chains to S. W. corner of S. E. J of the 
above-named section; thence W. to beginning 
point; containing 23G.85 acres. 



54 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 

Draw a plat of the following examples accord- 
ing to bearings and chains: 

Example No. 1. 



BEARINGS. 


CHAINS. 


1 S. 10° w. 

2 N. 70° W. 

3 N. 37° 45' E. - 

4 S. 78° E. 


19. 

15.25 
19. 

6.25 



Example No. 2. 



BEARINGS. 


CHAINS, 


1 X. 20° E. 


n 


2 E. 


51 


3 S. 10° E. 


10. 


4 S. 50° W. 


6| 


5 N. 30° W. 


8.20 



Write a description of the land in the above 
examples, beginning at the corner of any section 
you may desire and in any township. 

Art. 33. In describing land in a deed some 
conspicuous and permanent object near the cor- 
ners, such as trees, should be mentioned, and to 



On Government Land Survey. 



55 



describe it definitely and accurately, often roads, 
streams of water, the owners of adjoining land, 
and many other things are mentioned. The 
description must be such as to establish per- 
manently and definitely the premises. 



BEARING. 

Art. 34. The bearing of a line is the angle it 
makes with the magnetic meridian. 

Art. 35. The magnetic meridian A 
is a true north and south line. 
Suppose A B to be a magnetic 
meridian, then the angle that CD 
makes with it is the bearing. If 
C D were one side of a field, and D 
we were to describe it, we would 
say N. 25° E. 30 chains. b 

All lines not parallel with A B will make some 
angle with it. Hence we may locate all the sides 
of a field with reference to the magnetic meridian 
by expressing it in bearing and length of sides. 
(See some work on surveying in general.) 




56 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 

TOWNSHIP. 

Art, 36. It might be well to notice here some- 
thing more with reference to a township. It is 
not always necessary in describing a township to 
say T. 6 N., R. 3E. Unless two townships of 
the same number fall within the same State, it is 
unnecessary to describe as above. If there were 
onlv one T. 20, R. 30 in the State of Arkansas 
(and there is just the one) it would not be neces- 
sary to add anything more to locate it properly. 
When we mention the State in which it is situated, 
if there be no other township of the same num- 
ber, we locate it definitely, and instead of saying 
T. 20 N., R. 30 W., we describe it as being T. 20, 
R. 30, and mention the State. 

We know that it is quite often the case that 
two or more townships fall within one State, 
because in each "land district' 1 there are four 
townships of the same number, and in such cases 
it is necessary to tell whether they are north or 
south of base line and east or west of principal 
meridian. 

Aet. 37. We will further notice by reference 









Fig. IS 








s 


!g ; g. g; g 
•—20- 6— x - 

-— i"26" ° 

i it 


~i— ^--i 


l-£-- L — " 


L.Q..1 

3 


j | [ ..» 

[ - 2 


n is s s s 

P" 




7_ 


— &— 


._..^__ 


— ib— - 


— -4— 


si 






-~i;8— 

1 '»«« 


--47---- 


—16— 


— lfe-- 


—14— 


— 4- 




18}^! 20 

■— 4J9— - 


— 2:0— 


—2^- 


—2(2-— 


— -ab — 


— -2J4 

80> 




19^1 20 ; 

— 3J0— - 


— 20— - 


— 2Jb— - 


--27— 
1 
j 


---2J&-- 


i 

! 

78 


m 




1 "20 | 

— TsoiM— - - 


—3-2-— 


— 3J3 -- 

i 


--3k — 


— 3|5 — 

i 


— 3|6— - 




no 


Chains-) Mik. 


?i7 Chains . sijaa/r- 


40 rfcrcs. 10 C 


hains in length and 


t in width- f Acre. 


/ Chain -66 Ted. 



On Government Land Survey. 57 

to a township (see Fig. 8) that Sections 15, 16, 21, 
and 22 are the middle sections. Of this group 
Section 16 is often set apart for school purposes, 
especially in the Western States. Hence it is 
called school section. Sometimes Section 36 is 
used for the same purpose. 

FRACTIONAL FORTIES. 

Art. 38. Each township is surveyed accord- 
ing to the mile-stones along the south and east 
lines of the township to be surveyed, and by 
so surveying all fractional forties are on the west 
and north sides of the township. 

Thus, let us survey the above township, Fig. 15. 
We must always begin to survey a township by 
going to the southwest corner of Section 36. 
Begin at the mile-stone as established by the 
Government. Run north one mile (eighty chains), 
and establish a permanent corner (a half-mile - 
stone should have been established between these 
corners). Next run a temporary line east to 
range line, measuring the exact distance to it. 
We will suppose the distance to be seventy-nine 
chains, lacking one of being a full mile. 



58 A TJieoretical and Practical Treatise 

We now measure the distance from the point 
where the temporary line intersects the range 
line to the established mile-stone on the range 
line, supposing it to be forty links, and the inter- 
section to be south of the established corner. 
We then go back one-half the length of tempo- 

* Fig. 16 ° 



82 C^L___-— """"" % m 



m 



B D 

rary line (seventy-nine chains) and place the cor- 
ner just twenty links due north of temporary 
line. There will be the quarter-section stone. 

To understand fully the operation we might 
illustrate by Fig. 16. 

Take A B and O D as two section lines, and e 



On Government Land Survey. 59 

and f as two established corners. We desire 
now to place another corner directly .between 
them. 

We will run a temporary line from e east 
as in Fig. 16, till we intersect the other sec- 
tion line at m, measuring the exact length of 
same, and find it to be eighty-two chains. We 
measure the distance from m to f and find 
that to be two chains. Now, if we will run back 
on the temporary line forty-one chains, and 
thence due south one chain, and establish the 
corner n, it will be directly between e and f. 

This shows you how the corner may be estab- 
lished, but varies a little from the method used 
by surveyors. A discussion of that method is 
not within the sphere of this volume. 

We survey the next section above 36, which 
is 25, in the same manner, and perhaps our 
temporary line will run out north of the mile- 
stone on the range line instead of south. We 
repeat the operation as in Section 36, except 
move the corner south from temporary line. 

We continue the same operation till we come 



60 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 

to the southwest corner of Section 1. There we 
run north one-half mile (forty chains) and estab- 
lish a corner; thence north to township line, an 1 
find it to be short one-half chain. It ought to 
have been forty chains, but was only 39^. To 
have had a full section it should have run up as 
the dotted ]ine represents in Fig. 15, Section 1. 
We see now that the north lialf of Section 1 
lacks the amount contained in the small dotted 
triangle of being a full half-section. When we 
survey the north half of Section 1 we begin at the 
half-mile-stone and run north full twenty chains, 
leaving only 19-| chains to township line, as is 
shown in Fig. 15. That leaves all the forties 
along the township line fractional. All the 
forties along the north side of township are 
surveyed in this manner. The forties along the 
west side of the township are surveyed the same 
way, only we run full twenty chains west instead 
of north, as you will see by Fig. 15. Now, to sur- 
vey the next column of sections w r e must go back to 
the southwest corner of Section 35, and continue 
as before; and perhaps when we get to Section 2 



On Government Land Survey. 61 

we will find the north half to be too large by one 
chain, or gome other distance, as is represented 
in Section 2, Fig. 15. In this instance the north 
forties contain more than the supposed amount. 
We pull up and go back to southwest corner of 
Section 33, etc., till we get to the last column of 
'section. 

Then we begin at the southeast corner of 
Section 31, and run north one mile, thence west 
one-half mile (forty chains) and establish a cor- 
ner, thence west to range line. We find it to 
be short one chain. So, when the forties are sur- 
veyed as described above, they are all found to 
be fractional. We continue the same opera- 
tion till we get to Section 6. There we run north 
forty chains and establish a corner, thence north 
twenty chains and establish a corner, thence to 
township line, and find that to be only fifteen 
chains. We begin at the northeast corner of Sec- 
tion 6 and repeat as above, and find the last run 
to be sixteen chains. So the northwest quarter 
of the northwest quarter of Section 6 is frac- 
tional on two sides, and the only forty that ever 
happens thus in any township. 



62 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 

Aet. 39. All surveys made prior to about the 
year 1856 have a double set of corners along the 
township and range lines, but since that all sur- 
veys in one township are made to correspond with 
the mile -stones of the other. By so doing there 
are only one set of corners along these lines. 

Remark: At the close of illustration Fig. 17 
explain the difference between a tract of land 
that contains "more or less" and a "fractional 
forty." 



Questions. 

51. Is there another method used in describing land? 

52. To what does the foregoing method apply? 

53. To what kind of land does this method apply? 

54. How do we describe land when bounded obliquely? 

55. Describe the land in Figures 13, 14. 

56. What are the requisites in describing land by this 

method ? 

57. In describing land in a deed what must be done? 



On Government Land Survey. 63 

58. Such as what? 

59. What is the bearing of a line? 

60. "What is the magnetic meridian? 

61. Is it always necessary in describing a township to 

tell whether N". or S., E. or W.? 

62. When does it become necessary to describe thus? 

63. Are there likely to be townships of the same num- 

ber in each land district ? 

64. What are the numbers of the four middle sections? 
6b. For what purpose is Section 16 quite often used? 

66. What is it sometimes called? 

67. Where are fractional forties found? 

68. Explain why. 

69. What division is fractional on two sides? 

70. Why? 

71. Explain how quarter section corners are established. 

72. Do the surveys in one township correspond with 

those of the adjacent one? 

73. When was this mode of surveying begun? 



64 A Theoretical and Practical Ti^eatise 



CHAPTER V. 



(sor^EGnuoN and Guide 
Lcines. 



Art. 40. Let us recapitulate here a little and 
show more clearly why townships have* more or 
less land, and the use, or function, of correction 
and guide lines. 

We know that all the meridian lines gradually 
approach each other till they come together at 
the north pole. If no corrections w r ere made in 
these lines, a township situated half-way from 
the base line to the north pole would be just half 
as wide as it should be; that is, it would be 
just three miles wide. But to make up for this 
loss, at the distance of twenty-four miles there 
must be established standard parallels, or correc- 
tion lines. These are established throughout the 



On Government Land Survey. 65 

entire domain, and are numbered in rotation both 
north and south from the base line, as in Fig. 17. 
In surveying we must begin with full six miles 
on each standard parallel or correction line, and 
by so doing we keep all the townships very 
nearly equal. However, there will be a slight 
error; but the oftener we make a correction the 
less will be the error. The farther we get from 
the poles of the earth the less will be the error 
also, for one person may start six miles from the 
principal meridian on the equator, and will lose 
a small quantity on each township till he meets 
the meridian at the north pole; another person 
may start half-way from the equator to the north 
pole, six miles from the principal meridian, and 
must lose twice as much on each township in 
order to meet the meridian at the north pole also. 

GUIDE LINES. 

Art. 41. There are in addition to the lines 
already mentioned " guide lines" or " guide me- 
ridians." These are lines running north and 
south, and having about the same function as 

5 



66 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 

standard or correction lines. They are estab- 
lished twenty-four miles apart, and are numbered 
both east and west from principal meridian. 
(Fig. 17.) Many of them are named instead of be- 
ing numbered, as New Mexico Guide Meridian, 
Ruby Valley Guide Meridian, etc. 

Art. 42. In the actual work of the Govern- 
ment Land Survey it is contemplated that the 
base principal meridian, standard parallels, 
correction lines, and guide meridians shall first 
be extended over the territory to be surveyed, 
and that afterward township and section lines 
shall be run, where needed, within these tracts of 
twenty-four miles square, formed by the exten- 
sion of these principal lines; and each surveyor- 
general will therefore cause said principal lines 
to be extended as rapidly as practicable, as shown 
in the following diagram.* 

Each division in Fig. 17 is twenty four miles 

* In most of the surveys made up to the present time, the cor- 
rection lines have been established twenty-four miles apart north 
of base line, and thirty miles apart south of base line, and most 
of the guide meridians have been established forty-eight miles 
apart both east and west of principal meridian. 



On Government Land Survey, 



67 



square, and after having extended the standard 
parallels, or correction lines, and guide meridians 
throughout the entire domain to be surveyed, we 
may choose any locality, where it is necessary 
that sectionizing be done, and proceed at once 
with the work. 

Fig. 17 











4th 




Correction 


Line 










North 


+s *a 














r. r. 




















.9 9 


3rd 




Correction 3 


Line 










North 






























H 
















•W 




*a 4* 


<*a 


















2nd 


9 


8 

Correction 


Line 


03 

H 

North 


03 
















5 = 




fi 




- 


£ 


e 


£ cs 




'cs 




OS 


03 


09 
















2 5 




T3 




T3 


■e 


-d 


£ 3 




•— 

1. 




t- 




mm 

u 


« 9 




9 




O 


O 


.9 


n * 


1st 


n 


Correction 


Xine^ 


North ^ 


n 


9 9 




9 










CD 





9 






























.- ~ 




















s s 




= 










S 


s 


3 


- « 















O 


$ 


O 












BASE 












XINE 




5 1 

09 M 






M 


■B 


s 

61 


09 




1st 


1 


Correction © 


Line 


South 










£5 

IH 














K 














Ai 










2nd 




Correction 


Xine 


South 





68 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 



Table Showing the Location of the Meridian and Base 
Lines in the United States. 



Names of Meridian or 


WHERE LOCATED. 


Base Lines. 


No. of 
Miles. 


Direc- 
tion. 


Town. 


State. 


First Prin. Mer. 

Base Line . _ 


*0 

3 

2 
12 

2 

2 

4 

2 

n 

21 
12 
6 

5 
*0 

eN.of 

3 

30 

4 


W £ 

S c 

E 

N 

E 

S 

E 

S 

E 

N ' 

W < 

s 

E 

N 

Baton I 
W c 

S 

w 

N 
E 

S 6 
c 

"is" 

N 
E 

S 

w 

s 
w 

N 

w 


state line of 

>f Ottawa __ 

' Jackson 

* Frankfort 

4 Petersburg 

' Mound City _ . . 

k Belleville 

' Galena 

' Mt. Sterling . _ . 

' Dubuque 

1 Little Rock.... 

' Alexandria 

' Evergreen 

' Baton Rouge _ _ 

touge, La. 

f Jackson 

' Ashland 

' line of Miss. 

' Mobile 

>tate line, 24 m N 
f Tallahassee 

' Huntsville 

' State line of _ _ _ 

' Guthrie 



' Line of Public 

k Wichita 

v State line of... 
' Las Cruces 


Ohio 


Mich. Prin. Mer. 

Base Line 


Mich. 


Second Prin. Mer 

Base Line 


Ind. 


Third Prin. Mer. 

Base Line __ 


111. 


Fourth Prin. Mer 

Base Line 


i i 


Fifth Prin. Mer. . . 


Iowa 


Base Line 


Ark. 


La. Mer.. . 


La. 


Base Line 

St. Helena Mer. 

Base Line is the State lin 
Choctaw Mer 


Miss. 


Base Line 




N. Miss. Prin. Mer 

Base Line 




St, Stephens Mer 

Base Line _ _ _ . 


2 


Ala. 

Mobile. 


Ga. Mer 

Base Line . _ 





1 


Ga. 


Huntsville Mer. 

Base Line 


Ala, 


Indian Mer. . _ 


10 
96 


Okla. 


Base Line __. 




Public Land Mer 

Base Line 


Lands. 


Sixth Prin. Mer 

Base Line _ . _ _ . _ _ . 


3 


Kan. 


Prin. Mer. ofKM 


6 


KM. 



On Government Land Survey. 



69 



Table Showing the Location op the Meridian and Base 
Ltnes in the United States. 



Names of 3Ieridian or 


WHERE LOCATED. 


Base Lines. 


No. of 
Miles. 


Direc- 
tion. 


Town. 


State. 


Base Line 

Gila and Salt River Mer. 
Base Line _ _ . 


1 
9 

5i 


X 
E 

S 


of San Aracia 

" Prescott 

' ' Phoenix 


KM. 
Ariz. 


Pan Bernardino _ 




Pi 11. Mer 

Base Line . _ 


12 

4 

1 

6 

3 
*0 
11 
11 
11 

7 

1^ 





E 
N 
W 

s 
w 

"w 

s 

E 

N 
E 

S 


' ' San Diego ._■__. 

• • Los Angeles _ _ _ 

' • San Jose 

' • Stockton 

• • Portland 

" Boise City 

" Hailey 

11 Helena 

" Bozeman 

•• Rapid City 

" Salt Lake City. 


Cal. 


Mount Diablo Mer. 

Base Line . - - 


;; 


V/illamette Mer 

s "e Line 

Boise City Mer. 

Base Line 

Mont. Prin. Mer. . 

Base Line 

Black Hills Mer 

Black Hills Base Line 

Salt Lake Mer. _ 


Ore. 

Idaho. 

Mont, 

S. D. 

Utah. 


Salt Lake Base Line 





* Meaus they pass directly through the place named. 

The above table is not definite, as there are no 
established points within the above towns from 
which we may establish the lines, but they are 
given as approximate as possible with reference 
to the nearest town or city. 

In the study of this table you are referred to 
the map of the United States of land districts, 
principal meridians, base lines, etc. 



70 A Theoretieal and Practical Treatise 

UNSURVEYED STATES. 

You will further notice in the study of the 
map of meridians, base lines, and land districts 
that the following States are not surveyed accord- 
ing to the method of surveying: Maine, New 
Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, 
Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New 
Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Vir- 
ginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, 
South Carolina, Georgia, and Texas. 



Questions, 

74. Where do meridian lines come together? 

75. How do we make up for this loss? 

76. Is there any difference between a standard parallel 

and a correction line? 

77. What other line have we? 

78. How far apart are the guide lines, correction lines, 

and the standard parallels? 

79. How are they numbered? 

80. Are they ever named? 

81. Are standard parallels ever corrected? 

82. Are the other parallels? 



On Government Land Survey. 71 

MISCELLANEOUS EXERCISES. 

1. Interpret: T.4S., R. 6E.; T.5K,R.2W.; 
Section 8, T. 6, R. 4; Section 25, T. 22 N., R. 15 
east. 

2. Plat E. i of Section 25, T. 3, R. 2 in its 
possible locations. 

3. Plat and interpret: N. E. of the K W. \ 
of Section 36, T. 2, R. 3 west, 

4. Beginning at the S. W. corner of Section 1, 
thence N. 40 chains, thence E. 60 chains, thence 
S. 20 chains, thence W. 20 chains, thence S. 20 
chains, thence W. 40 chains. How many acres? 

Answer, 200 acres. 

5. A certain farmer owns a tract of land, the N. 
E., K W !? S. W., and the S. E. corners of which 
are at the following places respectively: The S. 
W. corner of the BT. E. i of the K E. \ of Section 
10; the S. E. corner of the K W. i of the N. 
W. J of Section 9; the N. E. corner of the S. W. 
J of the S. W. J of Section 16; the N. W. corner 
of the S. E. J of the S. E. \ of Section 15. What 
is the area? 

Answer, 1,440 acres. 



72 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 

6. The above farmer made his will as follows: 
He gave to his wife all the land in Section 10; all 
the land situated in the west half of Section 9, to 
his elder son; the S. E. J of Section 9 to the 
younger son; all the land situated in the N. } of 
Section 16 to the elder daughter; and the remain- 
ing part to the younger daughter. What part 
did each get* 

Answer : Wife 360, elder son 120, younger son 
160, elder daughter 240, and younger daughter 
560. 

7. B owns a square tract of land containing 
1,000 acres. The N. E. corner of this tract cor- 
ners with the S. W. corner of the N. E. \ of Sec- 
tion 24; the N". W. corner of this tract corners 
with the S. W. corner of the S. E. \ of the N. 
W. \ of Section 23. Locate the other corners. 

Remark : Ten acres square is -§- of a mile each 
way, hence 1,000 -h 10 = 100 tracts of 10 acres 
each. Extracting the square root, or arranging 
100 tracts in a square, gives 10 tracts each way, and 
|-xl0 = 1 g =| = \\ miles. One and one-fourth 
miles square = 1,000 acres. 



On Government Land Survey. 73 

8. C owns a tract of land containing 1,960 
acres. The IS T . E. corner is at the S. E. corner of 
the K E. J of Section 10; the JS T . W. corner is at 
the S. W. corner of the S. E. J of the X. W. i of 
Section 9. Locate the other corners. 

9. D owns a farm containing 160 acres. The 
N. E. corner of his farm is the same as the S. W. 
corner of CTs farm. Locate and describe the 
other corners. 

10. There are three farms, each of which is a 
square. The first contains 1,000 acres, the third 
160 acres. The second and third extend along 
the north side of the first just from one corner to 
the other. What is the area of the second? 

Answer, 360 acres. 

11. There are three farms, each of which is a 
square. The first contains 3,240 acres, the second 
1,440 acres. The second and third extend along 
the south side of the first from one corner to the 
other, and one-half mile farther. What is the 
area? 

Answer, 1,000 acres. 



74 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 



12. Describe and plat 


the following field notes: 


BEARINGS. 


CHAINS 


S. 46°30'E. 


20. 


S. 51° 45' W. 


13.80 


W. 


21.25 


N. 56° W. 


27.60 


N*. 33° 15' E. 


18.80 


S. 74° 30' E. 


30.95 



Containing 104.25+ acres. 



FORMS OF DEEDS. 

It is thought expedient, after having learned 
to describe and locate land, to give forms of 
deeds, mortgages, and abstracts. Every person 
should be able to discriminate between a valid 
and an invalid deed, mortgage, or abstract. 
Land has been shifted from one person to another 
until, often, the one in possession can not give a 
valid deed to his premises. Hence w T e should be 
aware of these things. 



On Government Land Survey. 75 



flDDENDA. 



'FULL COVENANT WARRANTY DEED." 

FORM 1. 

This Indenture, made this tenth day of August, in the 
year of our Lord one thousand' eight hundred and ninety-three, 
between Jacob Brown and Manila, his wife, both of Bentonville, 
Benton County, Arkansas, of the first part, and Roger Bucking- 
ham and James T. Ivan, both of Pea Ridge, Benton County, 
Arkansas, of the second part, 

Witnesseth, That the said party of the first part, in consid- 
eration of the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) to them duly 
paid, have sold, and by these presents do grant and convey to the 
said party of the second part, their heirs and assigns, a certain 
tract or parcel of land, situated, lying, and being in the County 
of Benton, in the State of Arkansas, and now particularly known 
and described as follows, to wit: The northeast quarter of the 
southwest quarter of section nine, in township nineteen north, 
range thirty west, containing forty acres, more or less, with the 
appurtenances, and all the estate, title, and interest therein of the 
said party of the first part. And the said Jacob Brown does 
hereby covenant and agree to and with the said party of the 
second part, his heirs and assigns, * that at the time of the enseal- 
ing and delivery of these presents he is the lawful owner, and is 
well seized of the premises above conveyed, free and clear from 
all incumbrances;* that the premises thus conveyed in the quiet 



76 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 

and peaceable possession of the said party of the second part, his 
heirs and assigns, he will forever warrant and defend against any 
person whomsoever lawfully claims the same, or any part thereof. 
In witness whereof, the parties of the first part have hereunto 
set their hands and seals the day and year first above written. 
Sealed and delivered in presence of 

Jacob Brown. [seal.] 

Marilla Brown, [seal.] 

State of Arkansas, } 
County of Benton. J" 
On the tenth day of August; in the year one thousand eight 
hundred and ninety-three, before* me, the subscriber, personally 
appeared Jacob Brown and Marilla Brown, his wife, to me known 
to be the same persons described in and who executed the within 
instrument, and severally acknowledged that they executed the 
same; and the said Marilla Brown on a private examination by 
me, apart from her said husband, acknowledged that she exe- 
cuted the same freely, and without any fear or compulsion of her 
said husband. 

William Stephens, 
Notary Public. 

Explanation. — If you will omit the part between the aster- 
isks, you will have a plain ' ' Warranty Deed. " 



-QUIT-CLAIM DEED." 

FORM NO. 2. 

This Indenture, made this twenty -fifth day of July, in the 
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, 
between W. T. Maxwell (unmarried), of the City of Bentonville, 
County of Benton, State of Arkansas, of the first part, and Cecil 
Moor, of the same place, of the second part, 



On Government Land Survey. 77 

WITNESSETH, That the said party, in consideration of the sum 
of four thousand dollars ($4, 000) to him in hand paid by the said 
party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby confessed 
and acknowledged, has bargained, sold, remised, and quit- 
claimed, and by these presents does bargain, sell, remise, and 
quit-claim unto the said party of the second part, and to his heirs 
and assigns forever, all the tract or parcel of land situated, 
lying, and being in the County of Benton, State of Arkansas, and 
is more particularly known and described as follows, to wit: 

Beginning at a stake or stone at the southwest corner of sec- 
tion nine, township nineteen north, range thirty west, thence north 
20 east 17.87 chains, thence north 30° east 8.40 chains, thence 
east 6.32 chains, thence south 10° east 19.20 chains, thence 
south 40° west 16.80 chains, thence north 50° west 12 chains 
to starting point, containing 38.72 acres of land, together 
with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances 
thereto belonging, or in anywise appertaining, and the rever- 
sion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues, and 
profits thereof, and all the estate, right, title, interest, claim, and 
demand whatsoever of the said party of the first part, either in 
law or equity, of, in, and to the above bargained premises, with 
the said hereditaments and appurtenances, to have and to hold 
the said premises to the said party of the second part, his heirs 
and assigns, to the sole and only proper benefit and behoof of the 
said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever. 

In witness whereof, the party of the first part has hereunto set 
his hand and seal the day and year first written above. 

Sealed and delivered in the presence of 

D. V. Walker. 

This must be acknowledged as form No. 1. 



78 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 

-REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE." 

A real estate mortgage is really the same in form as a deed, 
although we must have an additional statement of the amount 
secured, and the time and manner of its payments. We must 
give, also, the authority to sell if there be default in such pay- 
ments and a clause to make it void if such payments be made. 

We may insert the clauses just named in the above deeds and 
we have a real estate mortgage. 

As law is the product of good common sense, to write a legal 
document would be* to write with good judgment; that is, 
express the exact intentions of each party in the document. It 
will then harmonize with any law. 

While business forms are good, a sound judgment is better. 

It is seldom, in the United States, that a deed or mortgage 
must be written in a particular form of words, but they must be 
executed in a formal manner; that is, they must contain the 
requisites of a deed or mortgage. 

The requisites are simply the parties' names, the considera- 
tion, words of conveyance, the property described; and the words 
certifying that the grantee is to have it. 



" ABSTRACT." 

The following is a form of an abstract, a thing that every per- 
son should have before purchasing any piece or tract of land: 

Abstract of Titles to E. ^ of K W. J£ of S. E. J^ of Sec. 24, 
T. 22 N., R. 18 W., situated in Benton Co., in the State of 
Arkansas. 



On Government Land Survey. 79 



Sheet No. 1. Grantor. 

United States 
to 
W. H. Dending. 
Lelia Dending. 

Grantee. 



Date of Instrument — Date of Filing- 

Feb. 4, 1854. March 7, 1854. 

Deed, Record 4, Page 84. 

Consideration— $50. 00. 

Kind of Instrument— Warranty Deed. 



DESCRIPTION. 



E. % of K W. % of S. E. )4 of Sec. 24, T. 32 K, R 48 W... 
situated in Benton Co. , in the State of Arkansas. 



A CKNO WLEDGMENT. 

State of Arkansas, County of Benton, before a Notary Public 
within and for said county, appeared parties personally known, 
Yes. Executed for purposes and consideration expressed, Yes. 

Wife examined apart from husband, Relinquished dower 

for purposes expressed, Freely and without compulsion or 

undue influence, 

John F. Geyman, 

Notary Public. 

Sheet No. 2. Grantor. 

W. H. Dending, 
Lelia Dending, 
to 
Mary E. Stenning. 

Grantee. 



80 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 

Date of Instrument — Date of Filing- 

May 23, 1868. June 8, 1868. 

Deed, Record 23, Page 354. 
Consideration— $2, 864. 00. 
Kind of Instrument — Warranty Deed. 



DESCRIPTION. 

E. % of K W. 14 of S. E. 14 of Sec. 24, T. 22 K, R 18 W., 
situated in Benton Co., in the State of Arkansas. 



A CKNOWLEDGMENT. 

State of Arkansas, County of Benton, before a Notary Public 
within and for said county, appeared parties personally known. 
Yes. Executed for purposes and consideration expressed, Yes. 
Wife examined apart from husband. Yes. Relinquished dower 
for purposes expressed, Yes. Freely and without compulsion or 

undue influence, Yes. 

J. E. Boman, 

Notary Public. 



Sheet No. 3. Grantor. 

Mary E. Stenning 
to 

T. L. Lenman, 
Lennie Lenman. 

Grantee. 



Date of Instrument— Date of Filing- 

Jan. 1, 1870. April 4, 1870. 

Deed, Record 30, Page 18. 
Consideration— $3, 000. 00. 
Kind of Instrument — Warranty Deed. 



On Government Land Survey. 81 

DESCRIPTION. 
E. % of K W. M of S. E. M of Sec. 24. T. 22 K, R. 18 W., 
situated in Benton County, in the State of Arkansas. 



A CKNO WLEDGMENT. 
State of Arkansas, County of Benton, before a Notary Public 
within and for said county, appeared parties personally known. 
Yes. Executed for purposes and consideration expressed, Yes. 

J. M. Lailia, 

Notary Public. 

Sheet No. 4. Grantor. 

T. L. Lenman, 
Lennie Lenman, 
to 
A. L. Spencer. 

Grantee. 

Date of Instrument — Date of Filing — 

Aug. 25, 1884. Aug. 30, 1884. 

Mortgage, Record E, Page 142. 

Consideration— $250. 00. 
Kind of Instrument— Mortgage. 



DESCRIPTION. 

E. y 2 of N. W. M of S. E. \i of Sec. 24. T. 22 N.. R. 18 W., 
situated in Benton Co. , in the State of Arkansas. 

(On back of Abstract it must be expressed that the mortgage 
was paid, and when, and who the clerk was, etc.) 



ACKNOWLEDGMENT. 
State of Arkansas, County of Benton, before a County Clerk 
within and for said county, appeared parties personally known, 
Yes. Executed for purposes and consideration expressed, Yes. 
6 



82 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 

Wife examined apart from husband, Yes. Relinquished dower 
for purposes expressed. Yes. Freely and without compulsion or 

undue influence. Yes. 

F. M. Canus, 

County Clerk. 

Sheet No. 5. Grantor. 

T. L. Lenman, 
Lennie Lenman, 
to 
S. F. Dabblum, 
Enalia M. Dabblum. 

Gruntee. 



Date of Instrument — Date of Filing — 

July 30. 1893. Aug. 13, 1893. 

Deed, Record 58, Page 222. 

Consideration— $3, 500. 00. 

Kind of Instrument — Warranty Deed. 



DESCRIPTION. 

E. y 2 of N. W. H of S. E. % of Sec. 24, T. 22 K, R. 18 W., 
situated in Benton Co. , in the State of Arkansas. 

(On back of Abstract it must be expressed that the mortgage 
was paid, and when, and who the clerk was, etc.) 



A CKNO WLEDGMENT. 
State of Arkansas, County of Benton, before a Notary Public 
within and for said county, appeared parties personally known, 
Yes. Executed for purposes and consideration expressed, Yes. 
Wife examined apart from husband, Yes. Relinquished dower 
for purposes expressed, Yes. Freely and without compulsion or 

undue influence, Yes. 

J. I. N ANNUS. 

Notary Public. 



On Government Land Survey. 83 

Sheet No. Grantor. 



to 



Grantee. 
Date of Instrument — Date of Filing- 



_. . Record Page. 

Consideration — _ _ . 

Kind of Instrument — 



DESCRIPTION. 



A CKNO WLED GMENT. 

State of County of before a 

within and for said county, appeared parties 

personally known, Executed for purposes and considera- 
tion expressed Wife examined apart from husband, 

Relinquished dower for purposes expressed __. Freely and 

without compulsion or undue influence. 



84 A Theoretical and Practical Treatise 



Bentonville, Ark., Aug. 24, 1893. 

This certifies that the foregoing sheets, from one to five inclu- 
sive, contain a complete Abstract of all instruments affecting the 
titles of the lands herein described, as the same appears of record 
in the Recorder's office of Benton County; and, upon investiga- 
tion, we find no judgments or other liens affecting the title of 
said lands, except as herein stated. 

There are no suits pending and no foreign executions, and the 
taxes of 1893 and all previous years are paid in full. 



Abstracters. 

List of Real Estate to be Assessed for Taxation in 

Benton County, Ark., 1894. 

Township 19, Range 30. 



Owner's Name. 



T. J. Moran... 
F. M. Fowler. 

F. M. Fowler. 

G. W. Cooper. 
G. W. Cooper. 

C. W. Parker 
A. Y. Jones. __ 
J. F. Blocher. . 
J. I. Newton. _ 
N. L. Teller. . 
J. R. Roberts. 
A. L. Spencer. 

D. V. Stewart. 

W. Collins 

N. T. Lowry.. 



Parts of Sec- 
tions. 



Ei 

Wi 

NW 

Si 

NEi 

SE£ 

SWi 

NEi 

NEi 

SEi 

Wi 

NW± 

Si 

E^ 

Wi 



NE£ 

NE± 

NW 

NWi 

NWi 



NE± 
SEJ 
NE± 



NEi 
NEi 



No. 

of 

Sec. 



Area. 



Valua- 
tion. 



80 

80 

40 

80 

40 

160 

160 

160 

40 

40 

80 

160 

320 

80 

80 



500 
550 
300 
600 
400 
200 
250 
500 
375 
400 
000 
400 
100 
850 
725 



No. of 

School 

Dist. 



20 
20 
20 
20 
20 
21 
21 
22 
22 
22 
22 
22 
22 
22 
23 



Remarks. 



We proceed in this manner with each successive section 
throughout each township in the county. 

What would be the amount of each man's tax as assessed above 
at 2i per cent — what would be the sum ? 



On Government Land Survey. 85 

The State law in regard to the teaching- of the system of 
" United States Land Survey '■ : 

An Act requiring the method of reading and designating the 
survey of land of Arkansas by sections, parts of sections, town- 
ships, and ranges, to be taught in the public schools of Arkansas. 

Be it Enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas: 

S::ction 1. In addition to the branches now prescribed by 
law to be taught in the common schools of the State, it is hereby 
made the duty of the County Examiner of the several counties 
of this State to examine all persons applying for examination 
and license to teach in such schools as to their knowledge and 
proficiency in the method of designating and reading the survey 
of the land of this State by ranges, townships, and sections, and 
parts of sections, as surveyed, platted, and designated by the 
Government of the United States, and no such applicant shall be 
authorized or licensed to teach in any of such schools unless 
found, upon such examination, proficient in the method of desig- 
nating and reading land survey as in this Act provided, and it is 
hereby made the duty, and specially imposed upon all persons 
teaching in the public schools of this State, to teach and impart 
the instructions here provided for whenever practicable to do so. 
and a willful neglect or failure to discharge the duties by this 
Act imposed shall be deemed sufficient cause for the revocation 
of license to teach. 

Sec. 2. That this Act take effect and be in force three months 
after its passage and publication. 

Approved, March, 1893. 



I 




o P& 



9 



,S6 





\ 










w mi if in 1111 mill if in Hit id ctatis. 

The Territory Governed by each Meridian is Colored Separately. 




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